Reverdy c



(No Model.)

R. 0.53 LA HUNT.

FLUSH TANK.

ANDRIEW B.GRAHAM. PHflTO-UTNQWASIIINGTDN. 0.0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REVERDY C. DE LA HUNT, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOVA, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT I.SAFELY AND \VILLIAM K. VVISNER, OF SAME PLACE.

FLUSH-TANK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,560, dated April 7,1896.

7 Application filed January 29, 1895. Serial No. 536,614. (No model.)-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REVERDY 0. DE LA HUNT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State ofIowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush-Tanks;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of intermittent siphons operatedwithout moving parts and used for the purpose of cleansing sewers andwater-closets or like purposes.

The object of myinvention is to so improve the construction andoperation of intermit tent siphons as to greatly reduce the cost ofmanufacture and at the same time produce a sensitive siphon that willoperate under all conditions in a positive and reliable manner.

The construction of my improved siphon and the manner of its operationare fully described as follows, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this description.

Figure 1 represents the device as applied to a sewer flush-tank and is avertical midsection of my improved flushing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a planView and horizontal cross-section of the intake and discharge limbs onthe dotted line X X. Fig. 3 is a similar section of the trap on the lineY Y.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention embodies some-of the general features of a formerinvention of my own, as illustrated and described in certain LettersPatent of the United States issued December 25, 1894, No. 531,516, towhich reference may be had.

The improvement consists of certain modifications of construction bywhich I dispense with all subsidiary means for bringing the siphon intoaction and use instead the vertical section of the sewer-pipe as apotent factor to induce siphonic action-that is, in the initial actionof flushing a portion of the air confined in the siphon escapes throughthe seal of the trap, forcing a comparatively large volume of Water fromthe outlet of the trap into the vertical sewer-pipe. This prematureflush or discharge of water descending in the sewer-pipe carries downwith it a portion of the air, thus creating a partial vacuum between thedescending water in the sewer-pipe and the siphon-outlet. The suction ofthis vacuum acting contemporaneously with the confined air-pressure inthe siphon discharges the liquid contents of the trap and brings thesiphon into action.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is the tank or reservoir, which communicates atthe bottom with the sewer by the trapped discharge-pipe D. A pipe 0gives air communication between the reservoir and sewer-pipe B. Theinlet end of the vertical section of the sewer-pipe B communicates withthe outlet of the siphontrap D by means of an oblong dome E. This domeis composed of the shell or oblong ring E, flared at the bottom, and afiat cover E, which, when in position, is flush with and forms a part ofthe tank-floor. The bottom of the ring E fits neatly over the top of thesewer-inlet and the upper end of the outlet D Where the same branchesoif from the discharge-pipe D. By this improved construction the outletand sewer-pipe are brought close together, the lip of one projectingover.

jury to the floor of the tank when'necessary to inspect or clean thesewer at this point.

The inlet end of the discharge-pipe D is made cylindrical, as shown inFig. 2; but the trap D is of the elliptical form shown in Fig. 3, thetwo limbs being separated and formed by a single straight diaphragm D'.

The diaphragm D being made straight across the lower end a larger volumeof the confined air may pass under it in the initial action of flushing.The effect of this is to cause a strong premature flush or discharge ofwater from the outlet of the siphon.

In order that the water ejected from the outlet of the siphon may bethrown forward as well as up and out, the outlet is curved toward thesewer-pipe inlet, as shown. The ejected water is thus carried over thesewer-pipe inlet and descends into it. Little, if any, of such ejectedwater can therefore fall back into the trap on cessation of pressurebehind it, and the difiiculty of retrapping before the siphon comes intofull action is avoided.

The discharge-pipe D, extending above the floor of the reservoir, isprovided with an intake F, forming the short leg of the siphon. Animprovement in this part consists of a convenient device for fasteningthe intake securely to the pipe and prevents its being buoyed up off thesame. To this end its supporting-ribs F F are provided with internalnotches F and the upper-end of the pipe D with externalzflanges adaptedtoengage therewith. These flanges are eccentric to the pipe, mergingtherewith at one extremity. This admits of the intake being slipped overthe pipe and fastened securely inposition by turning it until theflanges engage the notches in the supporting-ribs.

The siphonage-breaking device consists, preferably, in the vent-pipe G.i This is in the form of a siphon with its longer leg extending downthrough the floor of the reservoir and turning inwardly to a connectionwith the discharge-pipe slightly above the normal level of the water inthe trap. The downrush of water prevents the breaking of the siphonageuntil the water-level in the reservoir. falls nearly to the bottom ofthe intake, whenthe flow is diminished and the siphonic action broken byair entering through the vent-pipe G; but the breaking device mayconsist of. a small hole g, called a snifi-hole, in the intake.

The operation is as follows: The siphon be ing first sealed by. fillingthe trap, Water or other liquid is allowed to flow into the reservoirthrough the supply-pipe H. The reservoir being filled to the mouth ofthe siphonage-breaking device, the air within the siphon is thenconfined in the intake and discharge limbs. As the water continues torise in the reservoir the confined air is compressed and the liquid inthe receivingdimb of the trap correspondingly depressed. This effect isincreased until the liquid in the receiving-limb of the trap isdepressed to a point at which the whole volume of the compressed air canno longer be retained within the siphon and a large elongated bubble ofair breaks through the seal along the straight edge of the diaphragm.Simultaneously with the discharge of the bubble from the trap aninflowfrom the reservoir drives the air out of the siphon and a fullsiphonic action is attained. The

liquid in the reservoir being discharged nearly to the bottom of theintake, the flow is diminished and air enters the siphon through thesiphonage-breaking device, restoring the liquid seal of the trap to itsnatural level,when the siphon is again ready for operation.

The drawings are made on a scale of one to sixteen and are designed toshow an eightinch discharge-limb with a seal of twentyfour inches. Theintake is twenty inches in diameter.

' It will be observed that the form and construction of theherein-described siphon is adapted to the manner of its operation. Theintake F is made of such capacity and so adjusted that the water-leveltherein is brought up nearly to the mouth of the pipe D by the dischargeof a portion of the confined air in D and F.

The vertical sewer-inlet B may extend to any depth, as-shown by dottedlines, thereby increasing the vacuity and its resultant effect upontheseal of the siphon.

.Having thus described any invention,what I claim as new, and desiretosecureby Letters Patent, is-

1. .In a flush-tank, the combination of a reservoir, a discharge -pipetherefor having a trap formed in the lower, oblong portion by a singlestraight web, with a level, straight lower end,'the outlet end of thetrap being separateda short distance from the dischargepipe to receivean overlapping dome, a sewerpipe having a vertical portion close to theoutlet portion of the trap, and a dome of practicallythe same capacityasthe said pipes, consisting of an oblong ring, flared at the bottom andoverlapping the upperend of the sewer-pipe and the outlet end of thetrap, and

a separable cover therefor flush with and forming a portion-of thetank-floor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a flush-tank, the combination of the reservoir .A, sewer-pipe B,having vertical portion 13 practically conterminous with the outlet ofthe discharge-pipe trap, the discharge-pipe D having trap D formed bythe diaphragm I and having the outwardlyextending outlet portion D, thedome E hermetically closed above composed of an oblong, flaring ringoverlapping said outlet and the upperendof the sewer-pipe,with its coverE, the intake F, and the vent-pipe G, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a flush-tank, the combination with the discharge-pipe D, havingeccentric flanges d, d, d, of the intake F, having supportingribs F Fprovided with notches f to engage said flanges, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REVERDY C. DE LA HUNT.

lVitnesses ROBERT I. SAFELY, J. M. INGOLD.

